Released December 1955 Recorded 1955 Label RCA Victor | Format 45 RPM, 78 RPM Genre Vocal Music | |
B-side "I've Changed My Mind a Thousand Times" | ||
"(The) Rock and Roll Waltz" is a popular song with music by Shorty Allen and lyrics by Roy Alfred in 1955, although the identity of the lyricist is in dispute. Other sources cite a Dick Ware, Dick Wise, or Dick Wine.
As the title suggests this novelty song is a waltz in triple metre, but it also contains a bass riff that is reminiscent of typical boogie woogie and rock and roll riffs.
The song is told from the point of view of a teenager who comes home early from a date, and catches her parents attempting to dance to one of her rock and roll records; only, having no frame of reference, the couple tries to waltz to the music.
The Kay Starr recording of the song, made in 1955, reached number one on the Billboard singles chart in 1956, staying there for six weeks. The recording was released by RCA Victor as catalog number 47-6359. It was Kay Starr's first recording of great significance for RCA Victor after leaving Capitol Records. She had a number of lesser chart entries on RCA in 1955, including "Good and Lonesome" and "Turn Right". She thought it was a joke when the A&R staff at RCA Victor picked it for her; it was so different from what she was used to recording. It was a No. 1 hit, a million seller, and one of the early songs of the rock and roll era.
The track also spent one week at No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart in March 1956.
Other artists who recorded this song include Ann-Margret (in 1962), Annette Funicello (in 1961), and Lawrence Welk and His Champagne Music with Alice Lon on vocals (in 1956, Coral EC 81128).